Key Verses: Titus 3:10-11 

 

“Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.” 

 

I’m sure that everyone who has ever been involved in any church has met a divisive church goer. Many of these types of people truly do care for the church, but the problem is that they always think that they know best. Other divisive members simply like to cause drama. Also, when something does not go their way they are quick to cause many problems. This is not something that is new in the church. There have divisive people in the church ever since the beginning days of the church. Here in the letter to Titus, the past of the church on the island of Crete, Paul gives very specific instructions concerning how the church is to deal with divisive members. 

 

First of all Paul says that the pastor is to warn them to stop being divisive. This does not mean that one cannot have an opinion and share it. There is a difference in having an opinion and causing division. One who is divisive seeks to constantly bring something back to the surface that has already been dealt with. They cannot let go of the past, nor can they accept that things did not go their way. As a result they seek to get people on their side. All that this causes is divisions in the body of Christ, and distracts the church from it’s primary purposes. Because of this the divisive person must be confronted and told they must stop causing drama and division. If they refuse time and time again, just like in baseball there are 3 strikes and your out, so too with the one who causes consistent division. This means church discipline must be exercised. This person should be kicked out of the fellowship. 

 

Paul says that this person is warped, sinning and self condemned. This means they are bent. There is part of their mind and heart that has not yet been totally fixed by the Holy Spirit. Likely because they have refused to submit to the Holy Spirits guidance. 

I want to encourage all of us to make sure that we are not the divisive member. Make sure we are not causing division or drama for unnecessary reasons. We must remember the primary purposes of God’s church is to share the gospel, grow in Christlikeness and glorify God each day! Let no small thing hinder that!